Ohio residents are familiar with mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies, but many people have never heard of no-see-ums despite encountering them regularly. These tiny insects are responsible for countless mysterious bites that seem to appear out of nowhere during warm weather. People often assume mosquitoes are responsible, only to discover later that something much smaller was actually the culprit.
No-see-ums belong to a group of tiny biting flies known as biting midges. Their small size makes them difficult to spot, which explains their unusual common name. Many are so tiny that they can pass through standard window screens and remain virtually invisible while feeding. By the time a person notices irritation, the insect is usually long gone.
Across Ohio, no-see-ums thrive in wetlands, woodlands, river corridors, lakeshores, agricultural areas, and even suburban neighborhoods. Although they rarely receive the same attention as mosquitoes, they play an important role in local ecosystems while creating plenty of frustration for outdoor enthusiasts. The more people learn about these insects, the more surprising they become.
1. No-See-Ums Are Much Smaller Than Mosquitoes
Most Ohio residents imagine mosquitoes when they think about biting insects, but no-see-ums are dramatically smaller…